Williams, Tennessee

American playwright born in Columbus, Mississippi as Thomas Lanier Williams. His father was a travelling shoe salesman, and when he spent long periods away from his family his wife and children went to stay with Williams' maternal grandparents; he has described these periods as harmonious. When the father was at home, however, the children had to keep out of his way since he drank and beat their mother. Williams and his older sister Rose were very close and preferred to play with each other rather than with other children. There was also a younger brother, Dakin. Williams contracted diphtheria when he was two years old and was lame for a couple of years. When he was twelve his father got a job with a shoe manufacturer in St. Louis, so they moved there. But both Williams and his sister disliked living in the city.